Sponsor Boost for NZ Chinese Language Week 2018

MEDIA RELEASE

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2018

Sponsor Boost for NZ Chinese Language Week 2018

The New Zealand Chinese Language Week Trust is delighted to announce five new sponsors for New Zealand Chinese Language Week 2018.

This year, the fourth year, the Week takes place from 23 – 29 September.

NZ Chinese Language Week is a Kiwi-led initiative to raise New Zealanders’ awareness of Chinese language and culture. It aims to promote the opportunity represented by an increased connection to China for students, individuals, businesses and the wider community.

All Kiwis are encouraged to take part in NZ Chinese Language Week 2018 by joining or organising events in their local community, and ‘giving Chinese a go’ by learning some basic phrases.

The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (New Zealand) Limited and NZ Maori Tourism are new Gold sponsors of the event, alongside major ongoing sponsor Hanban, the Confucius Institute Headquarters in China.

China Southern Airlines and Skykiwi, the most influential Chinese media in New Zealand, have joined as Silver sponsors alongside the New Zealand China Council.

Auckland Airport, ANZ, Christchurch Airport, Silvereye and the Asia New Zealand Foundation are joined as Bronze sponsors by the North Asia Centre of Asia-Pacific Excellence (North Asia CAPE).

The Week continues to receive broad support across political parties and the business and education sectors.

Co-Chair Jo Coughlan said: “The New Zealand Chinese Language Week Trust thanks and acknowledges all our sponsors, as without their vital support the Week would not happen.

“Organisations that support New Zealand Chinese Language Week demonstrate their understanding of the huge economic and cultural opportunities available through closer connections to China. China is our most important trading partner, our largest source of international students and second largest source of tourists. We all need to make more of an effort to engage with Chinese language and culture, given the country’s importance to the future of New Zealand.”

While learning Chinese in schools is increasing, opportunities are still limited. In 2017, an encouraging 64,874 primary aged students were learning Chinese. But there were just 5,820 secondary aged students learning Chinese. Only 1.3 per cent of pupils were learning Chinese in Years 11 – 13.

New Zealand was the first Western developed country to hold a Chinese Language Week. A highlight of last year’s NZ Chinese Language Week was the publication of a book of essays by Kiwi students translated in to Chinese called Flying Kiwi.

The Week was referenced by Chinese Premier Li as one of the symbols of the special relationship between New Zealand and China in an article he wrote to coincide with his visit to New Zealand in March 2018.

For more information on New Zealand Chinese Language Week: http://nzclw.com

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